Summer Flow Sunday Session - Yoga Workshop

Summer Flow

Safe Backbends
Open Heart 

Yoga Workshop

 

Sunday 26th of June 2011

10am-12.30pm £25 



 

 Backbends are a wonderful way to create more space to breathe, energise the spine, broaden the chest...

We will start with a slow and gentle flow to warm up and get to know our body, understand safe alignment principles and then
explore a selection of backbends in different variations and modifications.

With a foundation of being grounded, aligned andmoving with the breath our backbends are opening our chest and heart with grace, awareness and spaciousness.

Please RSVP by email, in class or by PAYPAL (online)

What would you like to explore in you practice? Let me know on Facebook or email...

Read the full newsletter HERE

Dance of Destruction

04/12/2010 11:02 am

 

Anja Brierley Lange

 published first in Families Online 

One of my favorite yoga postures is Natarajasana. Nataraj is a name for the God Shiva or the King of Dancers. Asana means seat or posture. The posture symbolises Shiva dancing the ‘cosmic dance’.

Shiva is the God of destruction. This may sound very hard and not at all divine. But when things get weary, stuck, unhealthy or blocked then it needs to be demolished to make space for new exciting and healthy experiences and creations. The Cosmic Dance, or Ananda Tandava, symbolises the cosmic cycle of destruction and creation. The necessity of letting go of what is no longer needed to make space for the new.

In this dance Shiva, or Nataraj, crushes and destroys a demon representing ignorance. Shiva is a fierce warrior God, the God of death, destruction as well as of dancing. Calm and gentle expressions as well fierce powerful dances to the loud beating of drums.

Listen to the music of your gentle breath, the sound of the birds, the wind or put on your favorite tunes be it Mozart, Indian Kirtan or Lady Gaga whatever inspires your Cosmic Dance.

Let's go dancing

Stand in your standing posture (Tadasana), feet parallel and body straight. Bend your right knee and let your foot moving it towards your right buttock. Keep your knees hip distance or together. Grab hold of you right foot, ankle or trouser leg with your right hand and bring your left hand to the sky. Now dance your dance staying focused and balanced if slightly wobbly. Optionally you can press your right foot into your hand and away from your buttock. And lift your chest into a gently backbend. Enjoy the creativity and play of your Natarajasana.

The pose is graceful, balances the nervous system, creates balance physically and mentally as well as strengthening the legs and works the spine.

As with all asana practices do see a qualified yoga teacher and if you have any health issues or medical conditions speak to your health advisor. Pregnant ladies - take it super easy and stay in the first variation.

About Anja:

Anja is a yoga teacher specialising in Vinyasa Flow, Pregnancy Yoga and one-to-ones. As a qualified Ayurvedic Practitioner she offers ayurvedic advice and treatments. Anja is also a qualified massage therapist and aromatherapist. She enjoys sharing this knowledge in her consultations, classes and through writing her blog on Families Magazine and other publications. See www.yogaembodied.com for details and sign up for her Email updates HERE.

You can join a Vinyasa Flow class for all levels, a Pregnancy Yoga class or see her for a consultation or treatments in Streatham Hill, Parson's Green, Fulham, Chelsea and Balham.

The Warrior Dance

I trust you have embodied some of the strength and assertiveness of the Goddess Warrior Durga during your practice of the Warrior pose sequence discussed in the previous blog entry. 

 

Maybe you want to experience the flow, instructions and creative sequences with other yogis and yoginis? You can join my classes in Streatham on Tuesdays and Thurdays at 8pm and they are for all levels. Pregnant yoginis can join the prenatal classes at 6.30pm or Fridays at 1pm in Chelsea... There are more classes in the near future, including in the Parson Green area, so do look on my website (www.yogaembodied.com) and sign up for the newsletter.

 

 

Now, we will continue with the openness and strength which we felt in our Warrior Pose Two and play a little. Revisit the description for this pose and feel proper grounded and strong.
Have your right knee bend and your toes pointing in the same direction as your knee. Left leg is straight and strong. Hips are squared and spine lifting out of your pelvis - arms radiating to the side. Take a few breathes.

Come into Extended Side Angle Pose by bringing your right forearm to the right thigh. Stretch all the way from your left outer edge of your foot to the left fingertips reaching your left arm above your head. Create lots of space in your ribcage to breathe.

The Extended Side Angle Pose needs as much power as your Warrior Poses. Keep your legs as a support for your torso. Be very aware that your do not collapse into your right shoulder try instead to lift and rotate your chest upwards towards the sky. This is a beautiful pose which opens the hips with your own strength, it creates space in your ribcage to breathe better and requires firm and strong legs. When you are ready inhale back into your Warrior Two.

 

From Warrior Two slide your left hand down your left thigh as your lift your right arm upwards into Side Warrior. Once again your legs are strong and supportive allowing a lift through your chest. Let your shoulders relax and encourage your heart to face upwards. There is no pressure in your left hand - it is just guiding the movement and openness of the pose. Come out of this pose back into your Warrior Two.

Now dance your warrior dance. Either enjoy a few breathes in each pose or proceed with continuous movements co-ordinated with your slow and relaxed breath. Exhale to Extended Side Angle Pose and inhale lift into your Side Warrior then let your out-breath move you to Extended Side Angle and continue this flow of movement and breath. When your are ready change sides.

Gently warm up before this sequence and familiarise yourself with the yoga practice by joining a few classes or see a qualified teacher. Maybe start with some Sun Salutations, lunges and do your Warrior sequence and finish by resting in Shavasana or Childs Pose. If you have any health concerns please speak to your medical adviser or your yoga teacher. Have look at a Sun Salutation HERE. 

You can also follow my blogs on Families Online Magazine

Yoga classes starting - come join us!

VINYASA FLOW
YOGA CLASS
CLASSES, ONE-TO-ONES, WORKSHOPS

- Greater Strength and Stamina
- Increase Flexibility and Focus
- Reduce Stress and Anxiety
- Better Balance and Posture

Drop in Classes for all levels


Tuesdays and Thursdays 8pm - 9.30pm £10
Capoeira School (above Barclays Bank)
136 Streatham High Road
SW16 1BW
entrance on Woodbourne Avenue
Starting 2nd of February 2010

See www.yogaembodied.com for details and teaching schedule
Anja is a qualified yoga teacher registered with the Independent Yoga Network